However, the wheels came off dramatically with unseeded Serbian Aleksandra Krunic dumping her out in the first round in what turned out to be a run of five successive defeats.

Konta has subsequently dropped to 46th place in the rankings, but she will go into her tough first-round opener against French sixth seed Caroline Garcia at Flushing Meadows with renewed vigour on the back of some good wins against former Grand Slam champions Serena Williams, Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka.

Konta, who has also fully recovered from a virus which ruled her out of last week’s Connecticut Open, told the BBC: “I’m in a better mental and emotional space.”
She added: “That sticky period at the end of last year was a good opportunity for a lot of self-discovery.
“I feel I definitely understood myself more and what is important to me and what areas of my work and life I need to take care of.

“I’d also like to think it has made me wiser – and if I’m ever approaching that situation again of feeling burned out then I could recognise it sooner and be able to act in an appropriate way.”

On her recent upturn in fortunes, Konta said: “I took each victory as another positive boost that I’m doing the right things and heading in the right direction.

“Sooner or later my opportunity will come to string more of those matches together. That’s what I’m looking for.
“I’m looking to be at the back end of every tournament I play – but you don’t cruise in any first or second-round matches.”